Jarom Jordan
jarom.jordan@byu.edu

Toni Niccoli – Forward (Fr.)

Brady Marshall – Forward (Jr.)

Kip Critchlow – Midfielder (Fr.)

PROVO, Utah (April 9, 2010) — After a frantic, all out offensive assault, BYU scored the game winning goal in double overtime to beat the Dixie Red Storm, 2-1 in Provo on Friday night. KC Whitworth played Brady Marshall the ball wide who then scored the game winning goal in the 107th minute, his second goal of the spring exhibition season.

“It feels great,” said junior forward, Brady Marshall. “KC (Whitworth) played me the ball and I turned and let it run … and put it in the far post. It was all KC. I just finished it off.”

Toni Niccoli, assisted by BJ Pugmire, got BYU on the board in the 68th minute with his first goal since the 2007 PDL season before his mission. Dixie tied the score in the 78th minute with a penalty kick. The Cougars relentlessly attacked Dixie with shot after shot only to play 17 minutes of the possible 20 in overtime to win with Marshall’s golden goal.

“I think we’re doing well,” said freshman forward, Toni Niccoli. “We’ve made huge steps in the two games this week. We’re starting to create a lot more opportunities now. It’s just putting them in.”

The Cougars outshot the Red Storm, 21-7 and made five saves on the night.

“I loved it,” said freshman, Kip Critchlow. “The fans were really loud and we got the win so it was great.”

BYU’s next game is April 24 at 6 p.m. on Haws Field in Provo. Tickets are $6 for adults and $5 for students and children.

Chris Watkins rallies his team after the first overtime to victory against Dixie.

Tonight is BYU’s first home game of 2010, an exhibition against NCAA Division II side, Dixie.  Kick off is at 7 p.m. and is $6 for adults and $5 for students (with a valid ID) and children.

Coach Chris Watkins announced today, BYU will play Weber State on Haws Field on April 24 at 6 p.m. BYU and Weber State tied 1-1 in the fall.

The Premier Development League opener is on the road at Orange County on May 8 and the first home game is May 21 against the Los Angeles Legends.Tweet

Jarom Jordan
Media Relations Director
jarom.jordan@byu.edu

PROVO, Utah (April 7, 2010) — BYU will play its first home spring exhibition game this Friday, April 9 against the Dixie Red Storm at 7 p.m. Tickets are $6 for adults and $5 for children and students with a valid ID. A dance party hosted by the team will happen at 9:30 p.m. after the game in the annex of the Smith Fieldhouse. A single ticket works for both.

SCOUTING THE RED STORM
Dixie finished the season 6-11-1 and in seventh place in the Pacific West Conference of NCAA Division II. The Red Storm are paced by all-conference forward, Jordan Roylance who led the Red Storm in goals (11), points (23), shots (39), shots on goal (20) and game winners (4) during the 2009 season.

2010 SPRING SEASON REVIEW
BYU is 2-0-1 in spring pre-season play. The Cougars defeated the Mesa State Mavericks twice on March 20 in Grand Junction, Colorado in the team’s first pre-season games. The Cougars won the first game 3-0 on goals from BJ Pugmire (‘13), Zach DeFrancis (‘16), and Brady Marshall (‘56). In the second game the Cougars won 2-1. March 27 BYU tied the UNLV Rebels 0-0 in Las Vegas, Nevada. In the fall, BYU went 1-1-1, defeating Utah State, tying Weber State, and losing to Real Salt Lake.

PREVIEWING THE COUGARS
Eight starters return this season, including goal keeper, Bryan Black, veteran defenders, KC Whitworth and Drew VanWagenen, midfielders Brent Jensen and Britt Osborne, as well as forwards Zach De Francis, Brady Marshall, and BJ Pugmire. The Cougars lost seven players to graduation, including All-PDL western conference honorable mention midfielder, Richie Bindrup. The Cougars begin the PDL regular season May 8 at the Orange County Blue Star before returning to Provo for its first home against the Los Angeles Legends on May 21.

2009 REVIEW
BYU finished 7-5-4 overall, in fourth position in the southwest division and just one spot out of the playoffs. Despite some major injuries the Cougars defeated Southwest Division champion, Hollywood Hitmen, 1-0 and tied eventual PDL champ, Ventura County 2-2.

PREMIER DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE
After winning seven club national championships, Brigham Young University joined the PDL in 2003. The Cougars reached the elite eight in 2006 and 2007. The PDL is the top U23 men’s league in North America and features 68 teams within four conferences across the United States and Canada. The PDL season consists of 16 regular season matches for each team, eight home and eight away. The PDL provides elite collegiate players the opportunity to taste a higher level of competition while maintaining their eligibility. BYU is the first and only university to own a franchise in the PDL. In addition to league play, PDL teams compete in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup as well as various exhibitions. The USL Premier Development League has proven to be an important stepping stone for top professionals now playing around the world.

DIXIE CONNECTIONS
BYU Goalkeeper, Cory Cosgrave played a game against Dixie as the BYU-Hawaii goalkeeper during the fall of 2009. Dixie goalkeeper, Tyler McAninch attended the same high school as BYU midfielder, Connor Bassett (Centennial HS in Las Vegas, Nevada). Dixie midfielder Zhaque Budge attending the same high school as BYU’s Britt Osborne and Doug Clark (Bountiful HS in Bountiful, Utah). Current BYU basketball coach, Dave Rose played basketball and baseball at Dixie and former BYU President, Jeffrey R. Holland attended Dixie.

FOLLOW THE COUGARS ONLINE
Check out the Cougars on twitter at www.twitter.com/byusoccer or on the official website at www.byusoccer.com.

QUICK FACTS
Who: BYU Cougars vs. Dixie Red Storm
When: Friday, April 9, 2010 at 7 p.m.
Where: The Stadium at South Field in Provo, UtahTweet

The Cougars continue to play spring pre-season exhibitions in preparation for the 2010 Premier Development League season. So far the Cougars are 2-0-1 with two wins at Mesa State (March 20) and a 0-0 tie at UNLV (March 27). Friday, April 9 BYU will host Dixie at the Stadium at South Field.

Come check out the Cougars almost a month to the day before the start of the 2010 PDL season (May 8 @ Orange County).

BJ Pugmire tweaked his knee at UNLV last Saturday but practiced strong yesterday so it sounds like he’s OK. BJ was highly recruited out of high school, had an outstanding two season in 2004 and 2005 with the team before serving a mission to Mexico. He’s been hampered by two ACL tears (one in each knee) and will be a key contributor up front, especially if BYU plays a 4-3-3 like they are experimenting with right now.

Mr. Pugmire also writes for the Daily Universe (BYU’s school newspaper). You can read a couple of his recent articles at these links.  Ironically he covers several of the extramural sports at BYU, one of which is men’s soccer but he’s in season with rugby and lacrosse.

Rugby suffers hard loss to in-state rival Utah (3/25)

Lacrosse team takes Trek to Canada (3/18)

BYU Rugby to Play Colorado (3/11)

The photo below is of BJ last summer performing tricks in Nicaragua to children in the streets. (Photo by Drew Van Wagenen)

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